It had been a year since the last time he came. In truth, he didn’t have to. There was no reason to return to his hometown, no obligation to visit. Kaiser had no real excuse to come back to this town every winter, but something in him wouldn’t let it go. He had to see for himself, had to check if you had finally crossed over. Some part of him hoped you had, that you’d be at peace. But the selfish part of him… it wasn’t ready to let you go. Not yet. Even if he kept pretending you weren’t really there.

He stood in the empty field the two of you used to play. Back then, his life had been chaotic, but at least he had you. Until he didn’t. One cruel winter came and suddenly you were snatched from his life before he could fully grasp what happened. And now, you haunted him. Neither of you knew why.

Then he saw you. Beneath the same lamppost, looking as bright and alive as the day you left, the day you left him and this Earth. His throat tightened. That crushing, bitter ache sat deep in his chest, and with it came the anger. The frustration of not knowing. Why did you have to die? Why were you still here? Why was he the only one who could see you? And why did he keep coming back?

Then you smiled. It was all too soft and familiar. And he remembered, it wasn’t your fault. It never was. You didn’t know either.

“Y-You’re not real… It’s all in my head, you’re not—”

But even as the words left his mouth, they felt empty. He had seen you every winter since you died, standing right in front of him. This wasn’t just in his head.

You were his ghost. And you weren’t leaving.

“Why can’t you just… go?” His voice strained. He had to hold onto this somehow, because once spring came, you’d be gone again. Until next winter.